SIX

After the English lesson, I swung my satchel over my back and made my way to the playground where Joanna and Lucy were already waiting for me. Admittedly, the playground was rather a small piece of meadow that was surrounded by fences. And the grass wasn't really green either, it looked rather brown and worn out. Like a pile of misery all the students gathered and went together in their little groups as usual to talk about the events of the day or to talk about Jessica, who had just experimented with a hair color that didn't suit her very well.

"Eventually her hair will fall out and she'll have to walk around as a tranny," Lucy said before shoving gum in her mouth and starting to chew it.

"Lucy," Joanna drove at her upset and Lucy just rolled her eyes. She was very sensitive about these things.

"Trannies are people who are not comfortable in their skin. What's wrong with that?" Joanna asked her.

"They should all die. God didn't give them a body for nothing, he wanted them that way, so let them live that way," Lucy replied angrily.

"There is no God. In any case, I would not let anyone determine how I should behave and follow him all my life. Everyone should decide for themselves how they want to spend their years and how they want to show themselves to people," replied Joanna with a slight hiss, the voice louder this time.

"Bullshit," yelled Lucy as well, until I interrupted her.

"Stop behaving like little children fighting over a lollipop! Just stop it!"

At once the two fell silent.

"There you go," I murmured relieved.

"How would you like it if a tranny stood next to you here?", Lucy asked me.

"You know what? Screw you," Joanna screamed angrily and stomped away. Lucy had an amused yet superior grin on her lips and I just stared wordlessly at her. It wouldn't do any good to scream after her and make everyone pay attention to you. Joanna would not listen to it and would not respond to it.

"Just leave it, Lucy," I murmured and then also walked away with quick steps. I really didn't feel like drama, even though the whole playground was staring at us. Should he rather stare at Melly's ass there, she had taken so much trouble to push him and present him that I was really surprised. Maybe they thought my ass was nice, maybe even better than Melly's.

I shouldn't really worry about that. There were more important things. For example the German class with Mrs. Bennet, which was coming up, and where I didn't have the slightest idea how I was going to pass it or if I would pass it at all.

On top of that, the preparations of the Ags were just around the corner. Fortunately I was no longer at the garden club. Carrying pots was pure child labor. Such things are forbidden.

I didn't even know if there were any preparations to be made at the theater. Apart from learning the text and moving your hands a little, you didn't have to do anything anyway.

But I still had to go there, otherwise I might be transferred to another company, and that was really the last thing I wanted. The last year was an apprenticeship for me.

°°°

After class, I strolled straight to the auditorium, where the theater performances took place every year. I was not the first. Some had already taken their seats and read or talked to each other. I didn't know any of them, I hadn't even seen them before and I had to smile when I noticed what kind of characters were at my school. For a moment I thought about turning back and watching a series at home. After all, one should not neglect important friends.

I was just about to open the door again when someone came first and ripped it open with a bang, only to bump into me head on head.

"I don't believe that now," he hissed and the blood in my veins froze. Shit.

"Sorry?", I tried to apologize, although instead of an apology it was more like a question.

"Are you doing this on purpose?", he sighed, holding his head.

"Sure, I'm just waiting for you to open the door and then run right into you. That's not painful at all, you know," I replied back. At least I tried. All that came out was a stammering "No. No idea what was suddenly going on. He just intimidated me too much.

"I hope so, too. I hope so, too, because I'm starting to get sick," he replied heartlessly and marched forward, me in tow, because the course was about to start.

I tried to get a front row seat and got one next to a firmer little boy with fat round glasses that made his eyes look three times as big. He was bent over a book and when I looked closer I saw that it was a Harry Potter book. I hated Harry Potter books, so he was slightly unpleasant from the start, although I shouldn't judge people by their taste in books.

After 5 minutes of waiting, during which I simply watched the boy and every now and then took a look at the book and read a few lines before he opened the next page, a skinny little man with a bald head came rushing in and greeted us warmly, almost bursting my ear skin, as his voice was loud and strong. A bit too loud and strong.

"Thanks to all who have registered here. I am happy that our course is always so well attended. Maybe it's because of the fact that you have such a cool teacher like me," he laughed briefly.

"Or maybe it's simply because we don't want to be in any other shitty course because they all suck," I added in my mind.

"Like every year, we have to do some preparations to be able to start playing games properly afterwards. He already pissed me off, his vocabulary, everything about him.

"That's why you will be divided into different groups, and each of these groups will play a small part. I will choose the groups and give them their tasks. They are to hand in their results next week. Let's start with the groups..."

I was already bored with all this. I will certainly not sit at home and paint flowers on cardboard. My partner can do that himself. Maybe I will be lucky and catch one of the nerds and he will do the dirty work on his own and I won't have to lift a finger.

"Let's get started. Kyle works with Sandra, Fynn with Cole, Sam with Andy, Emma with Phil and Jane with Ash. Please go to your groups now."

Everyone left their seats and romped to their partners, only I was standing there and had absolutely no idea who my partner would be. Until at some point only one remained and he turned his eyes away.

God, or whoever is up here watching me right now, I am beginning to hate you.